Deshmukh moves HC seeking bail in corruption case

One-liner:  Maharashtra's former home minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday moved the Bombay HC seeking bail in a case of corruption and misuse of official power which is being probed by the CBI.

Bail plea rejected: Deshmukh (73) approached the HC after a special CBI court rejected his bail plea last week.

In judicial custody: The NCP leader is presently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai.

Urgent hearing sought: His lawyer mentioned the petition before a vacation bench on Wednesday seeking an urgent hearing.

Direction to CBI: The court directed the CBI to file its reply affidavit by Nov 9 and posted the matter for hearing to Nov 11.

Money laundering case: The NCP leader is in jail since Nov last year after the ED arrested him in a money laundering case. The CBI arrested him in April this year in the corruption case.

Evidence: The HC had granted bail to Deshmukh earlier this month in the case registered by the ED. However, the special CBI court rejected his plea in the corruption case, noting that there was prima facie evidence against him.

Several ailments: Deshmukh in his plea in the HC said he is suffering from several ailments and is incarcerated for almost a year and the trial in the case may not commence anytime soon.

Claim: The plea claimed the special court while refusing him bail has merely a cut, copy and paste of the CBI charge sheet filed in the case.

Allegation: Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh in March 2021 alleged that Deshmukh, who was then the state home minister, had given a target to police officers to collect ₹100Cr per month from restaurants and bars in Mumbai. 

Bottom line: Dismissed cop Sachin Waze, arrested in March last year in connection with the case of recovery of an explosives-laden vehicle near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai, had also levelled similar allegations.

Source: PTI